City Commission - Regular Meeting

Can you turn up the sound? Turn up the volume. Hello? Hello? Hello? Better?

All right. Very good. So good evening, everybody. Welcome to the City Commission meeting here in Fort Lauderdale, September 15, 2026. I want to thank you all for being here. It's a beautiful day today, so we'll try to get you out early. For those of you who are here for the first time, welcome. We appreciate your attendance today. And to let you know how we begin our meetings, we start out with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moment of silence. We have certain announcements. And then we have the opportunity to recognize some organizations or individuals through our presentations. So ton

We want a little picture. So let's stand in front over there. Come on, let's stand in front.

That was great. So now please join the commission and the community in sharing this moment of silence.

Yes. So I also want to acknowledge, we lost a good partner for the city, Nick Rojo from Affiliated Development. We had the funeral for him on Saturday. So I just want to ask everybody to just keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you. Thank you.

At this time, we normally announce retirements of individuals who have served the city for 20 years or more. We have one of those people tonight. Mark Rossi, who was a fire captain, has served the city for 20 years. So congratulations, and thank you so much for your service to our city. So Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

Here. And there are no agenda announcements, so would someone please move to approve the minutes and the agenda? So moved. Second. They moved and seconded. Please call the roll.

Yes. And the minutes and the agenda are now approved. So, Vice Mayor, we're going to postpone this presentation until the next meeting. Thank you.

Yeah, they couldn't make it tonight. Yeah.

Thank you. So, our... Our first of three presentations tonight, we invite Commissioner Herbst to present a proclamation regarding Chen Moore and Associates here in the city of Fort Lauderdale. And I would invite Chen Moore, who's the CEO of the organization, and President Jose Acosta, as well as Tim Hogans and Darren Bedore to please join the commissioner at the podium.

So it's my pleasure to read this in recognition of the folks from Chenmore. Proclamation in recognition of Chenmore & Associates' 40th anniversary, whereas since its founding in November 1986, Chenmore & Associates, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, has provided engineering, planning, environmental science, landscape architecture, site development, and project delivery services throughout Florida, demonstrating a commitment to technical excellence, environmental stewardship, and sustainable and resilient communities. And whereas Chenmore has grown to include 13 offices throughout Florida, as w

Soccer team, even though we're not that great right now.

Now I'd like to invite Commissioner Stephen Glassman, who will present a proclamation recognizing familiar hypercholesterolemia awareness day here in the city of Fort Lauderdale. And I'd like to invite Karen Warfel, who's the ambassador for the Family Heart Association, to join the commissioner at the podium.

Thank you, Mayor. I am presenting a proclamation now from the Office of the Mayor, City of Fort Lauderdale, in recognition of Familial Hypercholesterolemia Awareness Day. Pretty good? Good job. That's a tough one. Say it ten times fast. I have to say it again now, actually. Whereas, familiar hypercholesterolemia, also known as FH, is an inherited genetic disorder that affects the body's ability to regulate and remove LDL, commonly known as bad cholesterol, from the blood. This can lead to a very high cholesterol level and an increased risk of coronary artery disease at a younger age. And where

Thank you, Commissioner. Now I'd like to invite Commissioner Pamela Beasley-Pittman to present a proclamation regarding Civility Pledge Day here in the city of Fort Lauderdale.

Good afternoon, everyone. Good evening. Good evening. How y'all doing? Y'all should know me by now. You know, I'd be like, hey, say hi back. I have the honor this afternoon to present this proclamation. Earlier in the year, I attended the National League of Cities annual conference, and this was one of the initiatives that the National League of Cities suggested that we as cities throughout the nation take a pledge in regards to civility, being able to, in unity, work together. So we are here today to declare that this is the day, and we're going to ask all of our neighbors as well to be a par

Okay, thank you, Commissioner. Now at this time, we will begin to take up our agenda items. And at the beginning of each agenda, we have what are called consent items. And at this time, The Commission will be asked to vote on the consent agenda items collectively. And unless there's a consent item that any one of the members of the Commission wishes to pull, it will vote and discuss it separately. If your item that you have signed up to speak has not been pulled, I will invite you to speak on that item before we vote on it. So at this time, I would ask Commissioner Herbst, do you have any item

Okay, so we have people who've signed up to speak on CR1, CR2, and CM10. So except for CR1, CR2, and CM10, do I hear a motion to approve the consent agenda items?

Yes. And CR1, this is a resolution approving termination of the assignment of the comprehensive agreement between Fort Lauderdale Studio Initiative, LLC, and Infinite Reality, Inc., excuse me, for the movie studio complex project. We have April Young who signed up to speak. And April, you've signed up to speak on CR1 and CR2, so... I guess they're pretty much the same issue. So is April here? April Young? Did she step out? OK. All right. And the other folks are just for questions only, right? So in CR2, Mr. Nelson.

Excuse me, Mayor. I'd like to just respond to this.

Because I think it's important for our city to know some of the things I'm going to read to you, and I apologize for the language, and I apologize to you for some of the words that I'm going to read, but the man who just spoke to the Commission and to the community loves to come to the podium and be charming and make you think that he's just fine, and he'll opine on many things, and I want you to hear some of his recent posts over the last couple of months so you know this is, what is that expression, a wolf in sheep's clothing? Yes. So here we go. Okay. These are all in the last few months. T

Next. All right, wait, wait. This is not really...

I'm sorry. I'm going to finish reading two more, Mayor, because it's important that people need to know when someone in our community tries to charm us, and yet this is what he posts on the internet, on social media. So I'm going to get through this. You'll just have to forgive me for this, okay? Okay, next one. All these crusty white people coming out and backing Debbie Wasserman Schultz are not white. They are just rich Jews like Debbie. These are nice, aren't they? Well, I am incensed over these, okay? And I am sharing my anger with you because I don't want anyone to be fooled by this man.

If I can say something, I was so excited tonight to give the proclamation that I just read. Change starts with us. I'm just going to say that. Change starts with us. Every day, everyone has an opportunity to be a better version of themselves. I'm not the person who wants to hear what someone said yesterday. Because the grace that I live under, I receive grace daily. and to be a commission that's working for everybody regardless of color, creed, smell, look, funk, whatever, choice of whatever they like to do. I stand in a position where I give them the space to be who they are, whether I like w

I agree with you. And civility is a two-way street.

It is, but we have to give people opportunity to accept it. We just read it. And you're reading something that was days ago. So that's my request. I understand. Okay. Thank you. Let us move on. Let us move on.

All right. So would someone like to introduce CR1?

Yes. And CR1 is now approved. Moving on to CR2, a resolution approving the second amendment to a comprehensive agreement with Fort Lauderdale Studio Initiative, LLC, for the movie studio complex. Would someone like to introduce the resolution? Yes, it is. The resolution has been introduced.

Yes. And CR2 is now approved. Moving on to CM10, Mr. Nelson.

No one else has signed up to speak. Anyone wish to speak on this item? There being none, would someone like to move the item? Move. Do I hear a second? Moved and seconded. Please call the roll.

Yes. And correct me if I'm wrong, City Attorney, but the Real Vista Civic Association is requesting this, correct? That's correct, Mayor. We're not imposing on, imposing the neighborhood? That's correct, Mayor. Okay, thank you. And they're paying for all the costs? Thank you. Okay. All right. Continuing with our agenda, we have M1. It's a motion approving the final ranking of firm negotiated fee schedule and agreement for request for qualifications, structural engineering, continuing services with Kimley Horn and Associates. No one has signed up to speak. Someone want to make the motion? Moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Please call the roll.

Yes. And M1 is now approved. M2, motion approving a service agreement with Brooks, Scarpa, Huber for the installation of a sculpture in the roundabout at 13th Street and 7th Avenue. Does someone like to move the item? Move. Second. Seconded. No one has signed up to speak. Please call the roll.

Yes. And M2 is now approved. So when is that going to be installed? I'm just wondering.

Very good. M3, motion approving a first amendment to the fiscal year 2026 not-for-profit service agreement to exercise a one-year extension between the City of Fort Lauderdale and Fellowship Recovery Community Organization Recovery Connection Division for fiscal year 2027. No one has signed up to speak. Someone like to move the item? Moved. Second.

Thank you, Fellowship Recovery, for your great work, your partnership, the outcomes you're having. Fantastic. Keep up the good work. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor.

Do I hear a second? Move the second. Please call the roll.

Yes. And M3 is now approved. M4, motion approving a first amendment to the fiscal year 2026 not-for-profit service agreement and to exercise a one-year extension between the City of Fort Lauderdale and Homes United Ministries. One person to sign up to speak. Mr. Meller. Is Mr. Meller here? There you are. You're just here to support us. I just wanted to be here. And you know what? We wanted you to be here, too. Would someone like to move the item? Move. Second. Moved and seconded. Please call the roll.

Yes. And M4 is now approved. Moving on to resolutions, appointment of board and committee members. Mr. Clerk, please read the names into the record.

Okay, very good. Thank you. Any other modifications or additions? There being none, no one is signed up to speak. Would someone like to introduce the resolution to appoint these board and committee members? Introduce. As amended. As amended. Thank you.

YES. AND I WANT TO THANK THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO COMMITTED TO VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME IN THE SERVICE OF THE CITY. THANK YOU. R2 resolution approving an increase in the contract cost capacity to request for qualifications parks and bond parks bond and parks master plan design and implementation services with AECOM technical services known as sign up to speak with someone like to introduce the resolution introduced resolutions been introduced Please call the roll.

For a vote, City Attorney, we continue to have positive, fruitful conversations with AECOM around the mitigation and the agreements around police headquarters that we're in right now. Okay, excellent. So we're progressing well?

Yes. So that resolution is now approved. R3, a resolution approving the secondary street name of Northeast 60th Street. between 18th Avenue and Northeast 14th Lane to also be known as the Mary Cotton Drive. No one has signed up to speak. Someone would like to introduce the resolution? It's been introduced. Please call the roll.

Yes. And that resolution is now approved. Now moving on to R4, resolution rescinding resolution number 04-164 regarding the secondary street naming of Northwest First Avenue between West Broward Boulevard and Sistrunk Boulevard to be known as Mary Brickle Avenue to facilitate the renaming to the primary street name of Mary Brickle Avenue. No one has signed up to speak. Would someone like to introduce the resolution? Introduce. The resolution has been introduced.

Yes. So just to make sure I'm clear on this, we already approved the renaming. This is just to clean up the record, correct?

Moving on to R5, resolution approving an amendment to the public transportation grant agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for design and construction of FXC Taxiway Bravo and Quebec realignment project at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. No one has signed up to speak. Would someone like to introduce the resolution?

Introduced. Any comments or questions? There being none, please call the roll.

MAYOR TRENTALES? YES. R5 IS NOW APPROVED. MOVING ON TO R6, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE TERMINATION OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LEASE AGREEMENTS FOR PARCELS 4 AND 5 AT THE FORT LAUDERDALE EXECUTIVE AIRPORT AND AUTHORIZING the city manager to execute a consolidated lease agreement with Lisa Holland, trustee of the Gerald M. Holland Trustee Trust. No one has signed up to speak. Would someone like to introduce the resolution? Resolution has been introduced. Please call the roll.

Yes, and R6 is now approved. Excuse me. Moving on to R7, this is a quasi-judicial resolution approving a site plan level 2 development permit with alternate design request and a parking reduction in the Northwest Regional Activity Center, Aster Progresso Village, Adventus MCA Flagler Triangle, LLC. Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in, and the commission will announce any site visits, communications, or expert opinions received and make them a part of the record. Commissioner Herbst, do you have any disclosures?

Looking at this, I believe I've met with Barbara Hall a long while back. Okay.

I'm going to say no. And I have no disclosures. No disclosures. Commissioner Glassman? None. Vice Mayor? Okay. No one has signed up to speak. Anyone wish to speak on this item? There being none, would someone like to move to close public hearing? Moved. Second. Seconded. Please call the roll on closing public hearing.

Yes. And public hearing is now closed on our seventh. Does someone like to introduce the resolution? Introduced. The resolution has been introduced. Please call the roll.

Yes, and that item is now approved. Moving on to R8, quasi-judicial resolution approving a site plan level two development permit with alternate design request in the downtown regional activity center. This is Flagler Village Residences, 501 Northeast Holdings LP. Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in. The commission will announce any site visits, communications, or expert opinions received and make them a part of the record. Commissioner Herbst, do you have any disclosures? TO KNOW?

YES, I MET WITH ROBERT LOCKERY. OKAY. COMMISSIONER BEASLEY-PITTMAN?

GOT A GOOD MEMORY. I HAVE THE SAME DISCLOSURE, ROBERT LOCKERY. COMMISSIONER GLASMAN? SITE VISIT AND MET WITH ROBERT LOCKERY. AND VICE MAYOR? YES, ROBERT LOCKERY. OKAY. A couple of people have signed up to speak. Patricia Hayes. Is Patricia here? Yes.

Mr. for questions, correct? It's OK. We're patient. Please give it to the clerk over here. Or the city manager. Good evening.

Can you just hold the mic closer to your, there you go.

So is your property to the south of this parcel?

This is property. Mr. Lockery, where are you? Mr. Lockery, my understanding that this is on the corner of 3rd Avenue and 5th Street? Can you just step aside just for a second? I stopped the clock, so... You still have your time. So this is on the corner of 3rd Avenue and 5th Street?

Well, I see it on the location map. Yeah.

Ms. Hayes, is your property, does it front on 3rd Avenue? Yes. So you have access to 3rd Avenue.

And I have not seen... Well, an easement is perpetual.

All right. And that may be true. You know, we're trying to resolve this. So all of your properties front on 3rd Avenue? We're only just talking about two, correct? Two. All right. So when you say that you don't have access to your property... You don't need the alley to have access if you're right on 3rd Avenue.

So the driveways into your parcels are from the back of the properties?

Okay. Mr. City Manager, do you have any thoughts on this? Or who's in charge of this?

In favor. Was that in his favor at the moment? In favor. Mr. Fajardo, what did you say?

Right. And we're not granting an approval of the site plan unless that perpetual easement is in place for the other property owners, right?

I don't know the answer to your question, but the concern that you have with regard to your property has now been resolved.

You will not be trapped. All right. Thank you so much. You're very welcome. And thank you for coming tonight and bringing this to our attention. Okay. Is there anyone else who wishes to speak on this item? There being none, do I hear a motion to close public hearing on R8? Moved. Second. We move to second it. Please call the roll.

Okay, great. Thank you for that correction. Thank you. Okay. Would someone like to introduce the resolution for approval as amended? It's been introduced. Okay. Please call the roll.

Yes. And our aid is now approved. Moving on to Public Hearing 1, this is the second reading of an ordinance amending the policy FLU 1.1.12 of the city of Fort Lauderdale comprehensive plan, future land use element, uptown transit oriented development designation to delete comment seven, restricting residential uses to an area East of power line road and North of Cypress Creek road and East of Andrews Avenue, South of Cypress Creek road. Got that. Okay. Uh, let's see. Um, Only one person has signed up to speak, Mr. Lockery, just for questions. Okay. So would someone please move to close public

Yes. And PH1 public hearing is now closed. Someone please introduce the ordinance.

Yes mayor Trent Ellis Yes, and pH one is now approved a second reading pH to public hearing a first reading of an ordinance amending the city of Fort Lauderdale unified land development regulations I'm not going to read all of that I Um, no one is, oh wait, just Mr. Lockery, just for questions. Anyone else wish to speak on this? There is nobody. So would someone please move to close public hearing? Moved. Second. If you move to second it, please call the roll.

Yes. And public hearing is now closed on PH2. Someone like to introduce the ordinance? Introduced. The ordinance has been introduced. Please call the roll.

Yes. And PH2 is now approved on first reading. PH3, public hearing, first reading, an ordinance amending the City of Fort Lauderdale Unified Land Development Regulations, Article 2, zoning requirements to allow warehouse as a conditional use. Um, no one has signed up to speak except Mr. Lockery, just for questions. Um, someone please move to close public hearing. Moved. Second. Seconded. Please call the roll.

Yes. And public hearing on PH3 is now closed. Would someone like to introduce the ordinance? Introduced. The ordinance has been introduced. Please call the roll.

Yes. And PH3? It is now approved on first reading. Moving on to PH4, this is a quasi-judicial resolution approving a waiver of limitations at 401 Idlewild Drive for one dock extending 52.75 feet, plus or minus, into the waters adjacent to the upland property. Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in, and the Commission will announce any site visits, communications, or expert opinions received and make them a part of the record. Commissioner Herbst, do you have any disclosures?

I'm sorry, Mayor, which number? This is PH4. PH4, hold on. This is a waiver of limitations on Idlewild. No disclosures, thank you.

Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? None. I have none. Commissioner Glassman? None. Vice Mayor? Okay. So, Mr. Hetfield, are you here? There you are. Did you want to come up and speak? Before you speak, can you just push the button at the bottom of the speaker? There you go.

Okay, that's all you have to say. Yeah, okay. I thought I was going to have to be like one of these attorneys in here and start giving a little bit of a... Your attorney's here, so... Yeah. All right, well, thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak on this item? You're being done. Someone please move to close public hearing on PH4. Move. Second. The move is seconded. Please call the roll.

Yes. And public hearing is now closed on PH4. Would someone like to introduce their resolution? Introduced. And that's for approval. Thank you. The resolution has been introduced for approval.

Yes, and ph4 is now approved. I Moving on to PH5, public hearing on a quasi-judicial ordinance approving the vacation of a 15-foot wide, 150-foot long portion of alley at 501 Northeast Holdings LP. Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in, and the commissioner will announce any site visits, communications, or expert opinions received and make them a part of the record. Commissioner Herbst, do you have any disclosures? Commissioner Herbst?

Oh, wait. I'm sorry. I apologize. Was that Robert Lockery? Yeah, Robert.

Sorry about that, Robert. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Robert Lockery. Okay. I have the same. Same. Same. Okay. Mr. Lockery gets around. All right. No one has signed up to speak. Would someone please move to close public hearing? Second. Moved and seconded. Please call the roll in closing public hearing on PH5.

Yes. And public hearing is now closed. Would someone like to introduce the ordinance? Introduce. Is it for approval? For approval. Okay. Please call the roll.

Yes. And PH5 is now approved. Moving on to ordinances of first reading. This is OFR 1, an ordinance amending the classification table of the pay plan of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida by establishing one new classification table. No one is silent to speak. Any questions? There being none, someone would like to introduce the ordinance? Introduce. The ordinance has been introduced. Please call the roll.

YES. AND OFR 1 IS NOW APPROVED ON FIRST READING. OFR 2, THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 15, ARTICLE of the Code of Ordinances regarding legacy events, signature events, and adopting an event impact fee matrix. Also, limiting the number of permitted events and road closures on the barrier island, and providing for increased penalties. One person to sign up to speak. Ms. Carla Rowntree, step forward. Good evening.

But I would... Since you're in District 2, Carla, since you say you live in District 2, I invite you to speak to the District 2 commissioner after the meeting, which will be shortly, and you can ask him these questions.

Anyone else wish to speak on this item? There being none. Yes, Commissioner.

Well, she can ask the question, but this is not a question and answer format. She can ask the question, and then afterwards she can speak.

So Carla, we've had a bunch of meetings on this for almost a year now. This is really just about classifying the types of events that we see come, mostly to the Barrier Island, and putting them in categories so that we know how to assess them in terms of impact fees. So we know how to take a break, maybe one weekend on the Barrier Island where we'll have a quiet weekend. We've been discussing events, particularly on the Barrier Island.

Well, I think it's listed like that because it really does affect anyone that would go to the beach. And it's not just District 2. The Barrier Island, we actually, there are three districts that do. I don't know who decided it. But it does impact anyone that's going to go to an event. So I think that's why it says District 1, 2, 3, and 4. But this is dealing with just all of the events that we see. We're trying to just grab them a little bit, get a little control over how many events, what type of event we're going to classify them in, how we're going to assess their fees. That's what it's rea

Does that complete your presentation? Okay. Anyone else wish to speak on this item? There being none, would someone like to introduce the ordinance on first reading? Introduced.

Carl, thank you. This has been years in work. Thank you. This is going to be amazing. Parks and Rec. Yes, everyone involved. Amazing.

This is awesome. Right. It is. And to pass this call on your birthday today is extra special. Thank you. Happy birthday.

Is that a signature event? That's a legacy.

That's a legacy event, and your impact fee is going to be quite exorbitant.

Yes. Okay. That was approved on first reading. Now we move on to the ordinance of second reading. OSR1 Second Reading and Ordinance Amending Chapter 28 of the Code of Ordinances to Increase Water Fixed Cost Recovery, Establish Multifamily Fixed Percharges Based on Dwelling Units Behind the Meter, Revise Irrigation Volumetric Tiers, Update Water Capital Expansion and Miscellaneous Fees, and Revise Leak and Unusual Consumption Credit Provisions. No one has signed up to speak. Would someone like to introduce the ordinance? Introduced. The ordinance has been introduced. Please call the roll.

Yes. And OSR 1 is now approved on second reading. OSR 2, we're going to defer that. Oh, that's been deferred from September 2nd. Okay. Second reading of an ordinance amending City of Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, Chapter 9, Buildings and Construction, including Article 2, Permits and Inspection. No one has signed up to speak. Anyone have any questions? There being none, please call the roll. So I'd like to introduce the ordinance. Introduce. That might help.

Yes. And OSR 2 is now approved on second reading. OSR 3, second reading. This is an ordinance amending the non-bargaining unit compensation table in Schedule 6 of the pay plan of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, providing a 3.5% general wage increase effective October 11, 2026. No one has signed up to speak. Would someone please introduce the ordinance? Any questions? There being none. Please call the roll.

Yes. And OSR 3 is now approved on second reading. The final item in today's agenda, OSR 4, is the second reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 15, Article 10, regarding vacation rentals. No one has signed up to speak. Any questions? There being none, please, someone please introduce the ordinance.

Thank you, city attorney, city manager, Jeff Reams, all the city staff that has been helpful with this. Thank you. This has been a long time coming.

Thank you for acknowledging. Can I please acknowledge Rhonda Hassan? Please do. Thank you very much, Rhonda. Yes, Rhonda, stand up, please. Portia.

Portia. Portia. Katrina. Katrina. Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is a win for our city in so many ways. Yes.

Yes. Okay. And OSR 4 is now approved on second reading. Mr. City Manager, is there any further business to the commission? Nothing further from me. City Attorney, do you have any announcements? You have no announcements. Anyone else have any comments or questions? There being none, this meeting is now concluded.